Jalayagnam: Ready for any probe: Minister

Andhra Pradesh Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah today asserted that he was ready to face any inquiry in connection with implementation of ''Jalayagnam''.

He was reacting to the demand by Congress MLC Konda Muralidhar for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the irrigation initiative.

''There is nothig to hide. We have been rebutting the opposition charges in various fora, including the State Assembly and the Lok Ayukta'', he said.

Opining that there seemed to be a ''personal agenda'' behind the Congress legislator making the demand, he retorted ''what has he been doing in the last five years''.

Attributing the economic recession to ''temporary funds shortage'', he said the Congress Government accorded top priority to ''Jalayagnam'' and completed irrigation works worth Rs 47,300 crore since 2004, and works worth Rs 6400 crore this year. Only bills for about Rs 3000 crore were pending now now, he pointed out. The Centre had accorded sanction for the Rs 4444 crore Nagarjunsagar moderisation works with full assistance from World Bank as against 50 per cent aid sought from it earlier, in view of the tight financial position, he said.

He said getting ''national project'' status for the Polavaram project was in the final stages now now. Referring to the fall in water flow in river Godavari, he said the Government would be in a position to provide water only to 2.25 lakh acres this season as against the total command area of 8.50 lakh acres. A review meeting would be held on November 25 to decide on water supply through Yelleru for crops and to Visakhapatnam city, he added.

-- (UNI) -- 04MS39.xml

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